Mediocrity not Meritocracy

Coaches need security? When I graduate and start working it'll take me about 12 years to make a million and in all those years I wont even have the security of knowing that I'll be going to work the next day...

This was just a neat severance package incase the Leafs miss the playoffs, his bestie still makes money. As a fan, I wouldnt be disappointed missing the playoffs if it means Wilson is gone.

If mediocrity can create a buzz in this city, meritocracy would get this place going wild. I would much rather see a young coach like Dallas Eakins make mistakes than see a 1300 games veteran coach get a too many men on the ice penalty on a penalty.

Funny thing is...nobody is to blame...its always our 4th liners that play like 10 mins a game people like to blame.

The article feels personal, almost as if he feels personally insulted by the signing. Regardless its pathetic. How is Wilson gloating? This guy needs to chose his words more carefully. Would someone not be happy that they secured themselves a job for another year? Of course.

I mean comon, Wilson is forced to be away from his family over 50% of the year, and has to constantly endure the Toronto media.

What does it really matter that Wilson gets his 1 year extension? Is Wilson not just as expendable as he was before? Yes. Can Wilson still be fired at any point? Yes. The only difference is that he is guaranteed to get paid for one more year. The man is one of the most winningest coaches in NHL history and has coached through the last 2 decades. Sure some .. or many may dislike his coaching style and the results he has brought to Toronto, but comon show the man some ****ing respect.

It was a short sighted artical showing no understanding of the bench dynamic. To compare the coach to Grabo or Liles....

The term lame duck coach exists for a reason, never heard the term lame duck 3rd line center before, and with good reason.

Coaches need some degree of security to have credibility with their players, "why change your game or your approach when this clown could be gone next year" is the thinking. Unless Cox has a share in the ownership why the hell should he care that Wilson got a 1 year extention that could have him fired at any time ? Makes 0 sense. And don't kid yourselves, if Wilson is fired he would not be unemployed for very long anyway so it costs the Leafs nothing to make this move while strengthening Wilsons bench presence for the short term.

How can anyone be bothered by this ?

This.

I find it humorous though that the media spent the summer and much of the early part of the season talking about how Burke hasn't re-signed Wilson and having a Lame duck coach, and when we come into the 2nd half in a playoff spot, this article appears.

If Burke hadn't signed Wilson, we would see constant talk about going into the playoffs without a coach signed for the next season and on the other hand if he does sign him for a 1 year extension which should tell you all you really need to know by the term right there, we get an article like this.

Take anything Cox and company say with a huge grain of salt guys. He's paid to write and is just doing his job. No matter what Burke would have done, this article would have been shaped accordingly.

It's really so simple. Burke wanted to arm his Coach with the authority he needed going into a possible playoff spot but still retaining the option to make a change in the summer if he doesn't succeed. The 1-year extension fits the needs of both Wilson and Burke. Wilson is at the stage of his career where he doesn't need security anyway. Only in Toronto woudl a 1 year deal be viewed as a severance package. You can make that argument with 3+ years though.

He got a one year extension. That's far from an outcry of support from Brian Burke! He prevented him from being a lame duck coach, and thats it. If he supported him fully he'd have given him a MULTI year extension, which he didn't get.

Article is ridiculous. Has this guy ever HAD a coach before? How about his editor? If his editor gave him mandates for his articles, but Cox knew the editor was leaving in a few months, would he take the suggestions to heart and try to become a better writer? Of course he wouldn't. Same goes for hockey. Wilson has built a great team dynamic, as everyone seems to enjoy being around each other, and that has a lot to do with the coach. We're better than we've been in years and we will continue to improve defensively. If we don't, then Wilson will be gone, there's no controversy here.

Why now though? he's been a lame duck for 4 months. Do you really think that during a playoff push, all of a sudden, guys like Phaneuf and Kessel will be like ehh lets not listen to our coach since he doesnt have a contract next year. A lot of guys have long term deals anyways, so they know they'll be around longer than the coach, or will be traded and get their money regardless. It really doesnt make a lot of sense in a hockey context. In Burkeworld, though, it makes total sense. His ego pushing him to buck the odds, say f you to fans and media who have questioned Wilson, put on a twitter show to show whos boss and who controls the message. Its typical.

Does anyone realize that the extension is just money? Wilson can still be fired at any time, not that he deserves to be.

Going down the stretch, it's never good to have a lame duck coach. Let the players know that this is their guy for the foreseeable, so buy in or you're going on an airplane.

The team is improving. PP has improved dramatically over last season. PK is coming but injuries have depleted our PK considerably (Connolly, Brown, Komisarek, Armstrong all get big PK time). Imagine our PP without Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul and Liles?

A good general rule of thumb is to take a look at whatever Cox and Simmons write, and simply think the opposite. Their writings are so transparent, yet so many of you run your heads right into it like it's an opaque hard brick wall, leaving yourselves in a cloudy concussed state of confusion resulting in drivel being posted here.

Yes, Burke extended Wilson because he loves playing games on twitter. Jesus how do you even function day to day?

We have a top 5 powerplay. Why does nobody mention that? Isn't that deserving of acclaim? We're in a playoff spot, isn't that awesome? Go ahead, keep ripping the coach because he doesn't strap on the skates and actually kill the penalties off for the team.

If the players disliked Wilson, HE WOULD BE GONE. It's as simple as that. Wilson has the YOUNGEST TEAM IN THE NHL and you idiots are acting like he has a group of accomplished vets. Give your head a shake.

Does anyone realize that the extension is just money? Wilson can still be fired at any time, not that he deserves to be.

Going down the stretch, it's never good to have a lame duck coach. Let the players know that this is their guy for the foreseeable, so buy in or you're going on an airplane.

The team is improving. PP has improved dramatically over last season. PK is coming but injuries have depleted our PK considerably (Connolly, Brown, Komisarek, Armstrong all get big PK time). Imagine our PP without Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul and Liles?

A good general rule of thumb is to take a look at whatever Cox and Simmons write, and simply think the opposite. Their writings are so transparent, yet so many of you run your heads right into it like it's an opaque hard brick wall, leaving yourselves in a cloudy concussed state of confusion resulting in drivel being posted here.

Yeah it's just money man, you know, the fans money. Your money and I just love how they use that blank check to throw it away on mediocrity.

If Toronto Maple Leafs were bottled and sold as a product in stores, nobody would buy it because it's not all that great. They would rather buy Vancouver which costs 10mil a year less to ice and made it to the cup last year.

Yeah it's just money man, you know, the fans money. Your money and I just love how they use that blank check to throw it away on mediocrity.

If Toronto Maple Leafs were bottled and sold as a product in stores, nobody would buy it because it's not all that great. They would rather buy Vancouver which costs 10mil a year less to ice and made it to the cup last year.

Read this out loud to yourself. Let me know what you think about it afterward.

Yeah it's just money man, you know, the fans money. Your money and I just love how they use that blank check to throw it away on mediocrity.

If Toronto Maple Leafs were bottled and sold as a product in stores, nobody would buy it because it's not all that great. They would rather buy Vancouver which costs 10mil a year less to ice and made it to the cup last year.

In no way is it "your money". That's ludicrous. It's their money and they can do with it what they like. The Ducks extended Carlyle for 3 years and then fired him. OMG WHERES THE UPROARRRR.

Your second point is competely lost on me. Vancouver's building blocks were all put into place by Burke/Nonis, are you saying you think they are simultaneously incapable of doing their jobs AND geniuses? Bravo sir.

Yeah it's just money man, you know, the fans money. Your money and I just love how they use that blank check to throw it away on mediocrity.

If Toronto Maple Leafs were bottled and sold as a product in stores, nobody would buy it because it's not all that great. They would rather buy Vancouver which costs 10mil a year less to ice and made it to the cup last year.

Yeah it's just money man, you know, the fans money. Your money and I just love how they use that blank check to throw it away on mediocrity.

If Toronto Maple Leafs were bottled and sold as a product in stores, nobody would buy it because it's not all that great. They would rather buy Vancouver which costs 10mil a year less to ice and made it to the cup last year.

Good article. If you think about it, hes very right. we all know the RW extension makes no difference in terms of Wilson's tenure. If he makes the playoffs he stays, he doesnt he goes. But what Burke has effectively done here is take company money and guarantee it to a friend, in essence, putting his neck on the chopping block. Its a ballsy thing to do, with little upside hockey wise

The real sad part is....Burke will keep saying he doesn't supply Wilson with the right players for Wilson to succeed. Well, IMO, that is Burke admitting he isn't doing his job. How come no one is noticing that?

Burke has consistently said, that he is not giving Wilson the best players.....

The real sad part is....Burke will keep saying he doesn't supply Wilson with the right players for Wilson to succeed. Well, IMO, that is Burke admitting he isn't doing his job. How come no one is noticing that?

Burke has consistently said, that he is not giving Wilson the best players.....

....When does he start? He has had several years.

...he said very clearly that he feels this is the first year where Wilson has had a decent team.

The real sad part is....Burke will keep saying he doesn't supply Wilson with the right players for Wilson to succeed. Well, IMO, that is Burke admitting he isn't doing his job. How come no one is noticing that?

Burke has consistently said, that he is not giving Wilson the best players.....

The real sad part is....Burke will keep saying he doesn't supply Wilson with the right players for Wilson to succeed. Well, IMO, that is Burke admitting he isn't doing his job. How come no one is noticing that?

Burke has consistently said, that he is not giving Wilson the best players.....

....When does he start? He has had several years.

Read post 24 in this thread you might learn something not just you but so many who don't grasp that this team is on the right path a path that this coach has taken other organizations through that road to contention.

Continuity is a word that gets lost in these parts in how good teams grow into them not slapped together and instantly your a top notch hockey team.

The real sad part is....Burke will keep saying he doesn't supply Wilson with the right players for Wilson to succeed. Well, IMO, that is Burke admitting he isn't doing his job. How come no one is noticing that?

Burke has consistently said, that he is not giving Wilson the best players.....

....When does he start? He has had several years.

Burke brought in players for the long term, not to help the coach in the short term. Now you know.

Cox and the rest of the media are just mad that Wilson had them all scrambling on Christmas day. Their own fault for being the tools that they are. Bunch of vultures. As long as Wilson keeps making the media his *****, I'm happy to have him as coach.